A very disappointing, if predictable end...

I picked up some great tips from this book, don't get me wrong. However, given the title, I expected a little more from the author's main point than "There is life after death".

I can't help but think that all the arguments and strategies that came before are undermined after he reveals that actually, the only idea that really helped was the belief in an afterlife.

There were hints of this throughout. Namely, when talking about the sense of self and who you are, he goes into a lot of effort to say that there is more to you than your thoughts, body, and desires. Rather than completing his train of thought and simply saying there is no such thing as the "self", he just says you are the "observer". Great. Well done, you've replaced one word with another, worse analogy for a soul.

This is just one example of the ideas in this book not being followed through because of an underlying restrictive belief system. I was actually becoming quite angry at some points because of fallacious logic or incomplete discussions.

There is a whole chapter dedicated to god, in which he outlines the good-old appeal from randomness argument. He goes to a huge amount of words/effort to state that the universe is complex and therefore there is a god (and therefore, inexplicably, an afterlife).
I just wanted to shout at him: complexity is NOT randomness! His arguments are deliberately misleading and harmful.

Basically, I learned a lot about my beliefs after reading this book, mainly in opposition to his.

The take-home points from this book, which I have taken to heart, are essentially:
1. You are not *just* your thoughts
2. Distract yourself with happier thoughts
3. Happiness is the default state, not something to *acquire*
4. Be present in the present

These four points are good enough. Save yourself 11 hours, stick with those 4 points.

75 people found this helpful

Life changing!

I was recommended this book by a client of mine and I am so grateful for the recommendation. This story is so powerful and Mo’s views on life and death have been simply life changing for me. I’ve always had an agnostic outlook but Mo’s views on whether we are just here as a chance event or by design have really resonated with me. I’ve listened to the various beliefs and religions, but nothing has struck a chord with me like this book has.

I am so grateful for Mo presenting his thoughts and beliefs in such a clear way for others to benefit. He’s had to experience a hugely challenging situation and to turn that whole situation into something for the huge benefit of others is just amazing.

Thank you for this book Mo.

13 people found this helpful

Excellent...up until the last chapter

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Delete the chapter on God. When I first started listening to this book I thought it was fascinating, insightful and endearing. Mo's story and his logical approach to finding the solution to his happiness was convincing and I was totally sold...Until I read his chapter on God. Out of the window went the logic, reason and insight and in came a set of arguments that were so misinformed it made me angry. it was like I was listening to an audio tour at a creation museum.I was so disappointed that someone who's ideas and arguments seemed so intelligent and persuading throughout the rest of the book resorted to the weak and uninformed arguments of a young earth believer.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

His approach to thinking about what really matters was inspiring, his opinions on a higher power were not.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

yes, the narration and passion was felt throughout.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

No

52 people found this helpful

Recommended to everyone

I rarely write reviews, but this book is fantastic.
Mo has a quirky narrators accent, which at first seems a little strange compared to the professionally narrated audiobooks. However, as you get used to it, you realise that this adds so much to the book. It’s a personal story of tough life experience that has brought tears to the eyes of the toughest of my friends. Mo has a real scientific brain and methodically creates and solves the happy equation. It’s an absolute joy to listen to and a down to earth, antidote to the rah rah, grind harder, go crush it rhetoric of many self development books. Listen to this book now. You will not regret it.

8 people found this helpful

fantastic narrative of a complex subject made easy

Loved it!! I foresee this becoming as renowned as "the power of now" but much easier to listen to and understand. fantastic metaphysical book told through a very personal story and logic.

24 people found this helpful

One to reread as so much contnet to process

I have read many "self development" and business books over the years, this one would be in my top 5 books to read. The content is powerful and written in a way that is engaging, amusing and honest. I kept reading and going..yea that's how I am!
It does get a bit ither worldly in parts but just stick with it and enjoy the story as much as the content.
I found it very personal and really enjoyed Mo reading it.
Inspiring and have recommended to many people since reading it.

5 people found this helpful

Little bit disappointed..

This book has some interesting concepts in it. I enjoyed listening to the author and I respect that he has found an equation that works for him. However for me there were too many places in this book that contradict. I would forgive these contradictions if the book didn't start from a science and maths approach and then try to prove god and afterlife by an initial distortion of a scientific theory and then layering on maths to develop the distortion. For instance the book’s “many random events that created the universe” against “an intelligent designer”. I'd don't think anyone would view evolution or the universe as random, there are forces/rules/laws guiding it...just not an “intelligently” aware being... I understand why he has built this mental model to help him be happy and some of what he wrote will help me be happier. I am grateful having listened to the book and thank him for writing it. However, the solution he came to for dealing with afterlife won’t work for me and I’ll keep on searching.

21 people found this helpful

Great book

Really enjoyed this book and so will you! Easy to easy understand and follow along.

3 people found this helpful

Solve for Happy review

Reading this book was an absolute joy. It is a practical guide and meta analysis of happiness literature to date. First time I read it it gave me hope, the second time put life long bad habits to rest

3 people found this helpful

One Of The Best - No, Actually THE Best

Where does Solve for Happy rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This will become a classic. It's easy to listen to, intelligent, fresh, and most of all very personal and touching. I will listen to this over and over, as there is so much in it.

What did you like best about this story?

The intelligence, the new perspectives and the enlightenment flowing from it. I've read literally hundreds of this type of book. From now on, this is the only one I'll recommend to others.

Which character – as performed by Mo Gawdat – was your favourite?

na

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Lots of moving moments, but the mathematical analysis of randomness in evolution was (for me) something that changed everything for me.

Any additional comments?

Thanks, Mo, for putting this into words. It was an honour to hear it in your own voice.

10 people found this helpful